Equipping the Saints for the Work of the Ministry Temptation, A Place of Testing
Speaker: Steve Little (Pastor)
Date: August 24, 2025
Scripture Reading
Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
In Our Communities We Are
Known as a people that Jesus is the center of our individual lives and our gatherings together
Known as a people of prayer
Known as a people that care about others
Before we get in to the message today, I want to share something from a pastor I really like to listen to, Pastor Jon Tyson (Church of the City New York)
He asked this question to his congregation: How does the Kingdom of God move forward and what role do you get to play in it?
Then he said this:
“I think most people think that the way the Kingdom moves forward is by getting gifted leaders who raise a bunch of money, who get the best building they can, who get great branding, who put on a bunch of programs that Christians attend so they can build momentum, who run some evangelistic programs where people occasionally meet Jesus. This is how it works… I think we’ve got it wrong….
The reason I bring this up is important, because if we’re not careful, we can unintentionally create a culture of passivity in the church where everyone's looking around waiting for whoever it is that’s meant to be doing the stuff, will, one day do the stuff and we will waste the talent of the body of Christ, each person. We all move the Kingdom of God forward together.”
This week in our series, Equipping the Saints for the Work of the Ministry our subject is
Temptation, A Place of Testing
Our talking points:
• Clarification
• Three Places Temptations Come From
• How to Triumph Over Temptation and Sin
· Clarification:
1. In this portion of scripture: “Do not lead us into temptation, deliver us from the evil one”
Have you ever scratched your head after someone has said something that seems out of place? Well, here is one that kind of seems odd. In all of the Lord’s prayer it gives clear guidance in our prayer life:
Who we are praying to: “Our Father In heaven”
For what:
1. His kingdom to come His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven
2. Give us our daily bread – this can be both physical and spiritual
3. Forgive us as we forgive others
4. Then: ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil or the evil one’ depending on your translation. (Some people have read this as if God is going to lead us into sinning – stop the madness)
So, let’s take a closer look at the first half of this portion of scripture. The way this is written in the Greek it would read better this way, So, if I am asking God not to lead me into temptation then am I actually asking Him to lead me away from temptation.
I think that James handles this in the 1st chapter of his book. “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God” –” But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”
Would it not read, “When we are tempted, Lord, lead us away from it. Get us out of it. We ask for deliverance from evil and the evil one.”
So, now let’s take look at the second half of Matthew 6:13, “deliver us from evil”. This phrase "deliver us from evil" in Hebrew can be understood in a few ways, including a request for protection from a specific evil force, from general evil, or from the negative consequences of temptation. The Hebrew word for "evil" can refer to both a personified evil force (like Satan) and a state of being or circumstances.
2. The word temptation definition
Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation (peirasmos),
But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (peirasmos), knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
This Greek word can refer to a situation that God allows to test or strengthen one's faith, or it can refer to enticement to sin by desires or external forces.
The Greek word for temptation has a dual meaning, encompassing both testing (often from God) and enticement to sin (often from Satan)
Temptation involves leading individuals away from God's will and towards actions that are opposed to God’s desire for your life’
3. Is temptation sin? No!!!
· Three places’ temptations come from:
1. Inside you:
James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
2. From someone else:
Matthew 18:6-7: But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
3. From Satan – The tempter:
Satan’s (adversary, Matthew 4)
The devil (slanderer, Matthew 4)
Lucifer (light-bringer, Isaiah 14:12)
Beelzebub (lord of dung, Matthew 12:24)
The accuser (Revelation 12:10)
The serpent (Genesis 3)
The father of lies (John 8:44);
The roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8)
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 3:4-5 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
· Fundamental Steps to Overcoming Temptation and Sin
Grow in Christ
2 Peter 1:5-9 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither [e]barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Pray
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
God has made a way
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Flee lust
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Resist the devil
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Benediction Scripture
Galatians 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
